Foldable bed

ABSTRACT

A foldable bed includes an upstanding cabinet; a bed frame assembly; and a pair of shifting mechanisms for pivotally supporting the bed frame assembly to the cabinet so the bed frame assembly can be shifted between a raised, closed position and a lowered, open position. Each of the shifting mechanisms includes a hinge plate pivotally connected to the cabinet and integrally formed with a portion of the bed frame assembly and a piston coupled between the hinge plate and the cabinet for assisting with shifting of the bed frame assembly between the raised and lowered positions. The bed frame assembly broadly comprises a tray; a metal frame positioned on top of and attached to the tray; and a plurality of metal legs positioned below and attached to the tray and the metal frame.

BACKGROUND

Family members and friends often wish to stay with their loved ones asthey recover from surgeries, births, and other medical procedures inhospitals and other care centers. Most hospital rooms aren't largeenough to accommodate separate beds for visitors, so the visitors oftenmust sleep on chairs or even on the floor. Some hospital rooms areequipped with folding beds, pull-out couches, and other similar types offurniture, but known versions of these devices occupy almost as muchfloor space as conventional beds and are difficult to install andoperate. Many of these devices are also unstable and uncomfortable.

SUMMARY

The present invention solves the above-described problems by providing afoldable bed that occupies less space than many prior art beds, issimple to install and operate, and is more stable, secure, andcomfortable than many prior art beds.

An embodiment of the foldable bed of the present invention broadlycomprises an upstanding cabinet; a bed frame assembly for supporting amattress; and a pair of shifting mechanisms for pivotally supporting thebed frame assembly to the cabinet so the bed frame assembly can beshifted between a raised, closed position and a lowered, open position.The shifting mechanisms cooperate with other components of the bed topermit the bed frame assembly to occupy as little floor space aspossible when opened and when being shifted between its closed andopened positions. The shifting mechanisms and other components of thebed also direct substantially all the weight of the bed to the bed'slegs rather than to an adjacent wall so that the bed can be usedvirtually anywhere and does not have to be bolted or otherwise anchoredto the studs in a wall.

In one embodiment, each of the shifting mechanisms comprises a hingeplate and a piston mechanism. Each hinge plate is pivotally connected tothe cabinet and is integrally formed with a portion of the bed frameassembly. Each piston mechanism is coupled between its hinge plate andthe cabinet for assisting with the lowering and raising of the bed andis oriented to maintain the stability of the bed

The bed also includes a novel bed frame assembly design that supportsmore weight than conventional fold-out beds while also providing a morestable and comfortable base for a mattress. One embodiment of the bedframe assembly broadly comprises a tray; a metal frame positioned on topof and attached to the tray; and a plurality of metal legs positionedbelow and attached to the tray and the metal frame.

An embodiment of the tray is formed of synthetic resin material andcomprises a plurality of spaced-apart, raised, air-filled cushions forsupporting a mattress. The cushions firmly support the mattress andprovide a cushioning effect similar to that of a box spring. The trayalso comprises a plurality of raised, elongated ridges positionedbetween the cushions for coupling with the metal frame and a raisedouter edge for securing the mattress within the tray.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described in the detailed descriptionbelow. This summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspectsand advantages of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanyingdrawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below withreference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a foldable bed constructed inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention and shown in its raised,closed position.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the foldable bed shown in itsraised, closed position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the bed shown with one of its side panelsremoved to expose portions of one of its shifting mechanisms.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bed shown in its lowered, openposition and with one of its side panels removed.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the bed, shown in its lowered, open positionwith one of its side panels removed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the metal frame of the cabinet, themetal frame of the bed frame, and the shifting mechanisms shown removedfrom the other components of the bed.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the metal frames and shifting mechanisms whenthe bed is in its lowered, open position.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the metal frames and pivot mechanisms when thebed is approximately half way between its lowered and raised positions.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the metal frames and shifting mechanisms whenthe bed is in its raised, closed position.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the bed frame's tray shown removed fromthe other components of the bed.

The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specificembodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of embodiments of the inventionreferences the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are intended todescribe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable thoseskilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can beutilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of theclaims. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to betaken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is definedonly by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents towhich such claims are entitled.

In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or“embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to areincluded in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separatereferences to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” inthis description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and arealso not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. Forexample, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment mayalso be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included.Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinationsand/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

Turning now to the drawing figures, and initially FIG. 3, a foldable bed10 constructed in accordance with various embodiments is illustrated andbroadly comprises an upstanding cabinet 12; a bed frame assembly 14; anda pair of shifting mechanisms 16, 18 for pivotally supporting the bedframe assembly to the cabinet so the bed frame assembly can be shiftedbetween a raised, closed position shown in FIGS. 1-3, and a lowered,open position, shown in FIGS. 4-6. The bed 10 is especially suited foruse in hospital rooms and other medical rooms, but may also be used incollege dormitories, apartments, nursing homes, military barracks, oranywhere else where beds are required but space is limited.

The cabinet 12 is provided for enclosing and partially concealing thebed frame assembly 14 when it is in its raised, closed position and forhelping to support and stabilize the entire bed 10 while the bed frameassembly 14 is being raised and lowered. The cabinet 12 may be of anysize and shape, and in one embodiment comprises a metal frame 20; and aplurality of panels 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 that attach to and partiallycover the frame.

As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the metal frame comprises a pair ofspaced-apart vertically-extending side rails 32, 34, the lower ends ofwhich form two rear legs 36, 38 for the cabinet. Twohorizontally-extending attachment brackets 40, 42, 44, 46 are attachedto each side rail 32, 34, the purpose of which is described below. Ahorizontally-extending top rail 48 is connected between the side railsand secured by a pair of angle braces 50, 52. A pair of L-shapedmounting plates 54, 56 are attached to opposite ends of the top rail foruse in connecting the panels 26, 28, 30 as described below. Ahorizontally-extending lower rail 49 is connected between the side rails32, 34 and secured by a pair of angle braces 51, 53. Ahorizontally-extending bottom rail 58 is spaced from and connected tothe side rails 32, 34 by a pair of brackets 60, 62. A pair of frontcabinet legs 64, 66 depend from the bottom rail 58. The various rails,brackets, etc. of the frame 20 may be constructed of any metal or othersuitable materials and may be bolted, welded, or otherwise connectedtogether by any conventional means.

The panels 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 attach to and partially cover the metalframe 20 as best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. In one embodiment, thepanels consist of a rear panel 22, shown in FIG. 2, and a shortenedfront panel 24, shown in FIG. 1. The front and rear panels may be formedof thin plastic or plywood. The panels also include a top panel 28 andtwo side panels 26, 30 connected to the plates 54, 56 and brackets 60,62 of the metal frame, as shown. The panels 26, 28, 30 may be formed ofplastic or other synthetic resin materials in a blow-mold process. Thepanels 22-30 not only improve the appearance of the bed, but alsoincrease the strength and rigidity of the cabinet 12 so that it cansecurely support the bed frame assembly 14 as it is being raised andlowered as described in more detail below.

The bed frame assembly 14 supports a mattress as shown in dashed linesin FIG. 4 and can be raised or lowered relative to the cabinet asdescribed generally above and in more detail below. The bed frameassembly 14 is designed to support more weight than conventionalfold-out beds while also providing a more stable and comfortable basefor the mattress. One embodiment of the bed frame assembly 14 broadlycomprises a tray 68; a metal frame 70 (best shown in FIG. 6) positionedon top of and attached to the tray 68 (best shown in FIGS. 4 and 10);and a plurality of metal legs 72, 74, 76 positioned below and attachedto the tray and the metal frame.

The tray 68 may be formed of plastic or other synthetic resin materialsand may be formed in a blow mold process. An embodiment of the tray 68is best shown in FIG. 10 and comprises a plurality of spaced-apart,raised, air-filled cushions 78. Each cushion may be rectangular-shapedand includes an array of depressions or cavities 80. The cushions 78 andtheir integral depressions 80 firmly support a mattress on the bed frameand provide a cushioning effect so the bed can be used without aseparate box spring. The tray 60 also comprises a plurality of raised,elongated ridges 82 positioned between the cushions 78 for coupling withthe rails of metal frame 70 and a raised outer edge 84 for securing themattress within the tray.

The tray 68 also includes recessed front corners 86, 88 and recessedrear corners 90, 92 for accommodating components of the metal frame asdescribed below. Openings 94, 96, 98 are formed through the frontcorners and near the center of the front edge of the tray for use inattaching the legs 72,74, 76 as described below.

The metal frame 70 adds strength to the bed frame assembly 14 and allowsit to support 500 pounds or more. An embodiment of the metal frame 70 isbest shown in FIG. 6 and comprises two rear corner plates 100, 102; twofront corner plates 104, 106; a left side rail 108 connected between thecorner plates 100, 104; a right side rail 110 connected between thecorner plates 102, 106; a rear rail 112 connected between the rearcorner plates 100, 102; and a front rail 114 connected between the frontcorner plates 104, 106.

An embodiment of the rear corner plates 100, 102 are planar and squareor rectangular-shaped and are integrally formed with a component of theshifting mechanisms 16, 18 as described in more detail below. As bestshown in FIG. 4, the rear corner plates 100, 102 fit within and arebolted or otherwise fastened to the recessed rear corners 90, 92 of thetray. Similarly, an embodiment of the front corner plates 104, 106 areplanar and square or rectangular-shaped. The front corner plates 104,106 fit within and are bolted or otherwise fastened to the recessedfront corners 86, 88 of the tray.

The frame 70 also includes a plurality of inner rails 116 parallel toand spaced between the left side rail 108 and the right side rail 110and a central rail 118 parallel to and spaced between the front rail 114and the rear rail 112. The rails 108-118 are positioned over andattached to the elongated ridges 82 in the tray as shown. The rails maybe formed of U-shaped or L-shaped aluminum or steel channels and may bewelded, bolted, or otherwise fastened together.

The metal legs 72, 74, 76 fit within similar recessed regions on theopposite side of the tray and are bolted or otherwise fastened to thefront corner plates 104, 106 and the front rail 114 through the openings94, 96, 98 in the tray. The legs may fold inwardly when the bed frameassembly 14 is closed as depicted in FIG. 1 and may operate latches orlocks when closed to lock the bed frame assembly in the cabinet.

The shifting mechanisms 16, 18 assist in the lowering and raising of thebed frame assembly 14 and mattress as described above and cooperate withother components of the bed to permit the bed frame assembly 14 tooccupy as little floor space as possible. The shifting mechanisms 16, 18and other components of the bed also direct all of the weight of the bedto the legs positioned on the cabinet and the bed frame assembly, ratherthan to an adjacent wall, so the bed can be used virtually anywherewithout requiring that it be bolted or otherwise anchored to wall studsor other structural supports.

In one embodiment, each of the shifting mechanisms comprises a hingeplate 120, 122 and a piston mechanism 127, 129. Each hinge plate 120,122 is pivotally connected to one of the brackets 42, 46 of the cabinetframe by a bushing 124, 126 or similar pivot and includes an angled leg128, 130 for attachment to one of the pistons. As best illustrated inFIG. 3, the pivot point of each hinge plate 120, 122 is above andbetween the front and rear legs of the cabinet so the legs supportvirtually all the weight of the bed frame assembly and mattress as theyare being raised and lowered. Each hinge plate 120, 122 is alsointegrally formed with or attached to one of the rear corner plates 100,102. Each piston mechanism is coupled between one of the hinge platesand one of the support brackets and is oriented to maintain thestability of the bed.

When the bed is in its raised, closed position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2,and 9, the pistons 124, 126 are fully extended and substantially all ofthe weight of the bed is supported on the legs of the cabinet. The bedmay be locked in this position by any suitable latches or lockingmechanisms coupled with the legs 72, 74, 76. The bed frame assembly 14may then be lowered by activating the latches and slowing pulling thebed frame assembly 14 from the cabinet 12. As the bed frame assembly 14is lowered as depicted in FIG. 8, the pistons resist the movement andprovide a ballast against the weight of the bed. Because of theconfiguration and mounting arrangement of the shifting mechanism, thepistons 127, 129 remain mostly vertical over the entire path of travelof the bed frame assembly so that much of the weight of the bed frameassembly remains nearly centered over the front and rear cabinet legs36, 64 and 38, 66. When the bed is fully lowered as shown in FIGS. 4-7,the legs of the bed frame assembly assist in supporting the weight ofthe bed and its occupants. The above-described steps may be reversedwhenever it is desired to close or raise the bed frame assembly.

Although the invention has been described with reference to theembodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is notedthat equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as recited in the claims. Forexample, the principles of the present invention are not limited to theillustrated central pivot irrigation systems but may be implemented inany type of irrigation system including linear move irrigation systems.

1. A foldable bed comprising: an upstanding cabinet; a bed frame assembly; and a pair of shifting mechanisms for pivotally supporting the bed frame assembly to the cabinet so the bed frame assembly can be shifted between a raised, closed position and a lowered, open position; each of the shifting mechanisms comprising— a hinge plate pivotally connected to the cabinet and integrally formed with a portion of the bed frame assembly; and a piston coupled between the hinge plate and the cabinet for assisting with shifting of the bed frame assembly between the raised and lowered positions.
 2. The foldable bed of claim 1, the cabinet comprising: a metal frame; and a plurality of panels that attach to and partially cover the metal frame.
 3. The foldable bed of claim 2, the cabinet metal frame comprising: a pair of spaced-apart vertically-extending side rails, the lower ends of which form two rear legs; a horizontally-extending top rail connected between the side rails; a horizontally-extending bottom rail spaced from and connected to the side rails by a pair of short side rails; and a pair of front legs extending from the bottom rail.
 4. The foldable bed of claim 3, wherein the hinge plate has a pivot point above and between the rear legs and the front legs of the cabinet.
 5. The foldable bed of claim 3, wherein the pistons are positioned above and between the rear and front legs of the cabinet and remain generally vertically-disposed over the entire path of travel of the bed frame assembly.
 6. The foldable bed of claim 1, the bed frame assembly comprising: a tray formed of synthetic resin material; a metal frame positioned on top of and attached to the tray; a plurality of metal legs positioned below and attached to the tray and the metal frame.
 7. The foldable bed of claim 6, the tray comprising: a plurality of spaced-apart, mattress-engaging raised cushions for supporting a mattress on the bed frame; a plurality of raised, elongated ridges positioned between the cushions for coupling with the metal frame of the bed frame assembly, a raised outer edge for securing the mattress within the tray.
 8. The foldable bed of claim 7, the metal frame of the bed frame assembly comprising: a pair of rear corner plates, a pair of front corner plates, a left side rail connected between one of the rear corner plates and one of the front corner plates, a right side rail connected between the other of the rear corner plates and the other of the front corner plates, a rear rail connected between the two rear corner plates, a front rail connected between the two front corner plates, a plurality of spaced-apart inner rails positioned between the left side rail and the right side rail and connected between the front rail and the rear rail, and a central rail positioned between the front rail and the rear rail and connected between the left side rail and the right side rail.
 9. The foldable bed of claim 8, wherein the left side rail, right side rail, rear rail, front rail, inner rails, and central rail are positioned over and attached to the elongated ridges in the tray.
 10. A foldable bed comprising: an upstanding cabinet; a bed frame assembly; and a pair of shifting mechanisms for pivotally supporting the bed frame assembly to the cabinet so the bed frame assembly can be shifted between a raised, closed position and a lowered, use position; the bed frame assembly comprising— a tray formed of synthetic resin material; a metal frame positioned on top of and attached to the tray; a plurality of metal legs positioned below and attached to the tray and the metal frame.
 11. The foldable bed of claim 10, each of the shifting mechanisms comprising: a hinge plate pivotally connected to the cabinet; and a piston coupled between the hinge plate and the cabinet for assisting with shifting of the bed frame assembly between the raised and lowered positions.
 12. The foldable bed of claim 11, the cabinet comprising: a metal frame; a plurality of plastic panels that attach to and partially cover the metal frame.
 13. The foldable bed of claim 12, the cabinet metal frame comprising: a pair of spaced-apart vertically-extending side rails, the lower ends of which form two rear legs for the cabinet; a horizontally-extending top rail connected between the side rails; a horizontally-extending bottom rail spaced from and connected to the side rails by a pair of braces; and a pair of front legs extending from the bottom rail.
 14. The foldable bed of claim 10, the tray comprising: a plurality of spaced-apart, raised, mattress-engaging cushions for supporting a mattress on the bed frame; a plurality of raised, elongated ridges positioned between the cushions for coupling with the metal frame of the bed frame assembly, a raised outer edge for securing the mattress within the tray.
 15. The foldable bed of claim 10, the metal frame of the bed frame assembly comprising; a pair of rear corner plates, a pair of front corner plates, a left side rail connected between one of the rear corner plates and one of the front corner plates, a right side rail connected between the other of the rear corner plates and the other of the front corner plates, a rear rail connected between the two rear corner plates, a front rail connected between the two front corner plates, a plurality of spaced-apart inner rails positioned between the left side rail and the right side rail and connected between the front rail and the rear rail, and a central rail positioned between the front rail and the rear rail and connected between the left side rail and the right side rail.
 16. The foldable bed of claim 13, wherein the hinge plate has a pivot point above and between the rear legs and the front legs of the cabinet.
 17. The foldable bed of claim 16, wherein the pistons are positioned above and between the rear and front legs of the cabinet and remain generally vertically-disposed over the entire path of travel of the bed frame assembly.
 18. A foldable bed comprising: an upstanding cabinet the cabinet comprising: a metal frame; and a plurality of plastic panels that attach to and partially cover the metal frame; a bed frame assembly comprising: a tray formed of synthetic resin material; a metal frame positioned on top of and attached to the tray; a plurality of metal legs positioned below and attached to the tray and the metal frame; and a pair of shifting mechanisms for pivotally supporting the bed frame assembly to the cabinet so the bed frame assembly can be shifted between a raised, closed position and a lowered, use position; each of the shifting mechanisms comprising: a hinge plate pivotally connected to the cabinet; and a piston coupled between the hinge plate and the cabinet for assisting with shifting of the bed frame assembly between the raised and lowered positions.
 19. The foldable bed of claim 18, the cabinet metal frame comprising: a pair of spaced-apart vertically-extending side rails, the lower ends of which form two rear legs for the cabinet; a horizontally-extending top rail connected between the side rails; a horizontally-extending bottom rail spaced from and connected to the side rails by a pair of braces; and a pair of front legs extending from the bottom rail.
 20. The foldable bed of claim 18, the tray comprising: a plurality of spaced-apart, raised, mattress-engaging cushions for supporting a mattress on the bed frame; a plurality of raised, elongated ridges positioned between the cushions for coupling with the metal frame of the bed frame assembly, a raised outer edge for securing the mattress within the tray. 